Simple Tips to Stay Healthy

I came across some great tips in the recent Martha Stewart Weddings magazine we can all do to stay healthy. They are given by nutritionist Keri Glassman in NYC and I must say they are pretty easy to follow. I always try to share ways for people to better themselves because it truly is important to take care your body, mind and soul. This is essential to being successful, happy and confident.

So read on for things you can do on a daily basis that will bring positive results in no time.

Eat Something Every Four Hours
Try to stick with 3 meals and 2 snacks and you shouldn't hear that tummy grumble. Glassman suggests you consume about 400 calories for each meal and 150 calories for the snacks.

Try these websites for healthy snack ideas under 150 calories each:
Ladies Home Journal
Glamour
Cher Nutrition


Go Crazy with Vegetables
I tell people this all the time. If you are an overeater, than just eat veggies! You can eat just about as much as you want and they make you feel great. Not to mention, they totally fill you up with all the fiber they contain. Starting your meal with a salad or some type of vegetable based soup will help you eat less on your dinner plate.

Check out this article on The Huffington Post about the best and worst vegetables to eat.

Choose a Better Beverage
The drinks people are coming up with these days are seriously scary. Starbucks alone has a coffee drink that contains hundreds of calories! I agree with Glassman when she suggests you skip the fancy drinks and high sugar sodas. Water is always the best choice and drinking 8 ounces a day is what you should aim for. But when you do need a little something different, try a club soda with some lemon or cucumber slices.

Check out The 20 Worst Drinks in America by Mens Health magazine to find out which ones to stay away from.


Be a Label Reader
One of my top pieces of advice to people is reading the label on everything you buy. Do you think major companies really care about your health? The food industry is a mess filled with lies, false advertisements and tons of garbage! Unless you are eating natural or organic foods, you are probably in trouble. Look over the label and see how much sugar, salt and calories are in it. Also check the ingredient list. If it has over 10 listed, I would question the item you are about to purchase.

Download this information guide to reading labels on the EPA website.


Avoid Entree Size Salads at Restaurants
Although salads are great, you have to be careful when you go out and order them. They often are filled with fat that isn't needed. Whether its cheese, nuts or the dressing, don't consume it all. Order a small one or take half home. Also, try to stick with lean proteins and veggies.

For more information read The Best and Worst Restaurant Salads from Cooking Light.


Get Seven Hours of Sleep
I know everyone needs help with this one. We are all busy but it doesn't help anyone if we don't get enough sleep, especially your skin. The hours you sleep are essential for your body to rest and get refreshed as well give your mind a break. Not getting enough sleep can also effect your hunger the next day and cause you to eat more. One study found that can be as much as 300 calories more! Get to bed!

Here are some articles on why we need sleep and why its important:
Time Magazine
Complete Well Being
Serendip


Chill Out
No one enjoys being stressed out. Not only can it cause weight gain but it can effect your life tremendously. Giving yourself time to relax and chill out is what your body and mind need to function properly. Keep these in mind throughout the day and you should be good to go. Stay healthy and keep smiling!

Thanksgiving 2011

This Thanksgiving Danny and I had a nice quiet dinner for two. Having visited his parents earlier in the day and then meeting my family for dessert in the evening, it was a nice break of peace for the both of us. We decided to only make our favorite veggies for the special feast so the menu included: mashed potatoes, sweet white corn, carrots with dill butter, roasted asparagus and biscuits. It was delicious :) Even Olive enjoyed her mighty veg dinner.

Even though the holiday wasn't the same as the years before, we enjoyed it. The more time passes, you realize that things change and people tend to go their own way when it comes to the holidays. As long as you can do what makes you happy and somehow share the special moments with loved ones, everything is all good.

Here are some photos from our yummy veg Thanksgiving dinner :)

Grandma's Lentil Soup

I love soups! During the fall and winter I make tons of batches so we have leftovers. There are few that are my favorites such as my Veggie Soup and Tomato Minestrone. However, there is another one that is close to my heart. Grandma's Lentil Soup! My Grandma rocks, especially in the kitchen. She grew up eating this soup thanks to her mother and now I get to eat it up too. Hearty and delicious, a warm bowl will make you feel better if you are sick, get you all toasty on a cold night or simply crush those hunger pains. Its easy to make, healthy as can be and oh so yummy. Now you can all benefit from this great recipe too :)

Grandma's Lentil Soup
- 1 cup lentils
- 6 cups of veggie broth or water & 3 veggie bouillon cubes
- 1/2 of a small can tomato sauce
- 2 carrots
- 1 small onion
- 2 tsp of adobo seasoning
- 1/2 cup of orzo or small pasta

1. Chop all veggies into bite size pieces.
2. Pour water or veggie broth in pot and add tomato sauce and seasoning.
3. Add veggies
4. Mix and cook on medium low for about 30 minutes or until the lentils are fully cooked.
5. Before its almost done cook up the orzo add to the soup when done.

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Crumb Muffins

Today I took my main muffin mix recipe and changed it up a bit. Filled with whole wheat heartiness and heart healthy oatmeal, these delicious muffins are bursting with cinnamon. As a small treat I threw in a few chocolate chips but they would still be yummy without them. Here I share this awesome recipe and hope you can enjoy these vegan treats just as much as I do. My dog Olive loves them too!

Muffin Mix
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup white unbleached flour
- 1 cup oats
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup almond milk (or soy)
- 3 tbsp earth balance butter
- 1/4 cup applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
*add 1/4 cup of chocolate chips after all is mixed together

Crumb Topping
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white unbleached flour
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 4 tbsp earth balance butter

1. Mix all ingredients for muffin mix & then make crumb topping.
2. Fill cupcake tin with 6 liners.
3. Fill each one with a spoonful of batter then crumb topping & repeat until all is used.
*Use your hands to add the crumb topping and press it gently into the batter.
4. Bake at 375 for about 15 min or so *check with toothpick: they are done when it comes out smooth*
5. When done, take out and let cool on a cooling rack for a few minutes.
6. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top.
7. Eat up while they are still warm and enjoy!

Get Creative in the Kitchen

I came across a blueberry muffin recipe in Real Simple that inspired me to get baking. There were a few things I wanted to change so I switched a few ingredients out for vegan substitutes and didn't include some others. I also took some tips from another recipe from Kim Barnouin's cookbook and combined everything together. Boy did they come out awesome!

Always remember that you can take recipes apart and make them your own. This time I used blueberries but in the future I can add just about anything I want. From chocolate chips to nuts to other types of fruit - they will all taste great. The one thing that is important to me besides having something taste good is to use organic, natural ingredients that are healthy and vegetarian. I don't use dairy in any of my baked goods and you don't have to either. Even if you're not vegan or vegetarian, its smart to be as healthy as possible. The fact that you can enjoy a sweet treat and have it be healthy is such a amazing thing.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

After some time experimenting with recipes I created this one for the yummiest chocolate chip cookies ever. And they are vegan! I have to share it because everyone will love them and you will look like a rockstar. So get baking and eat them up!

MIX:
1/2 cup of Earth Balance butter
1/8 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of brown sugar

ADD:
1/4 cup of applesauce
1 tsp of vanilla
1 1/8 cup of flour
1/4 tsp of baking soda
1/4 tsp of salt
1/2 to 1 cup of vegan chocolate chips

Roll batter into little balls about 1 inch thick and lay on baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Let cool for 5 minutes and BAM - eat up!

A Belgium Breakfast

Every other weekend or so I like to make pancakes or belgium waffles for breakfast. Sort of a nice little treat for Danny and I. My vegan pancake recipe is awesome but I recently found a waffle recipe that came out really well too. I am going to tweak it a bit but as of now, it's pretty damn good.

I like to warm up the syrup and butter so its nice and hot for dipping and sometimes add vegan chocolate chips for extra sweetness. Add a little powdered sugar on top and you have one might fine breakfast. Yum! Recipe coming soon :)

It's About Time

I'm watching the Food Revolution with Jaime Oliver and am so happy he is doing another season. It is no surprise that our school system is somewhat destroyed. From education and teacher positions to the food they feed your children. There definitely needs to be change because our kids aren't learning what they should and most of them are fat and unhealthy. Is this okay with you because it's not okay with me.



Now, I don't have kids yet but in a few years I will. I have friends that have children and also young ones in my family. I care about all of them and they deserve the best. When I do have kids of my own, they will eat the freshest, most healthiest food from the start. No nasty meat. No chemical filled junk. No food that has been sitting on a shelf for God knows how long. They will consume plenty of fresh veggies and yummy treats that are pure sweetness. And they will love them all.



The key is to give your kids the good stuff from the start. My Mother fed me tons of vegetables, fruits and organic foods when I was a child. I LOVE tons of vegetables and fruits to this day and I thank her or that. She didn't feed me lots of red meat, mostly chicken. That was a good thing too. Because of that I was never a big meat eater. This made it easier for me to go veg when it was my time to.



I don't care if your kids won't eat certain things. I know tastes change and little ones can be picky and quite frustrating. However, they only know what you give them. Get creative with foods and trick them if you have to. It's worth it for them to be healthy and develop good eating habits. I sure hope you all agree. If you feed your children crap, they won't like fresh "real" food when they have it. That is seriously sad and it's pretty much your fault. No one ever said parenting was easy. Buckle up and get ready for the ride.



My advice to parents, especially young parents, is to involve your kids in the preparation. Show them where food comes from, how it grows and why each is so amazing. When they see that there all types of delicious foods out there that are healthy too, it will make all the difference. Plus, they are learning and will have fun in the process.

As far as the school system goes, they need to grow balls and lose the greed. It's either the district doesn't get enough funding or they would rather pay administration money they don't deserve than supply the schools with healthy food. Both are screwed up but both can surely change. Right now, everything is falling apart. That is why people need to be strong and use their power to make change in the home. You all have the power to do so.

Stop being lazy and cook for your family. Make time if you feel you don't have it. Too bad. Stop complaining about money and stop using it as a reason why you don't buy natural and organic foods. Its old and annoying. Get over it. If some things are a little more expensive than cut back funds somewhere else. Food is important! Your body needs to thrive on it. Not crash. If you need help budgeting your money or help shopping for better food than ask. There is always a resource out there you can go to.

I sure hope that things in the near future. It's a scary thing. 2012 is right around the corner and we should all expect a shift to come into play. I am not saying the world is going to end but something is going to happen. Just be prepared, thats all. We all need to eat better, move more and take care of friggin planet! The more we destroy our surroundings, the more we destroy ourselves. Being selfish and greedy is disgusting. Money isn't everything and material things are just garbage compared to the real needs of human beings.

Do the right thing for yourselves and your children. Help others make the right decisions. Love all animals because they are Earthlings too. This planet is a home to all of us and we are all equal. We need nature to survive. We need to consume the gifts of the Earth to thrive and be amazing. We need each other for support, love and inspiration. It's about time we all Evolved for Change.

A Mighty Breakfast

Every weekend I try to make sure my fiance Danny gets to eat a hearty breakfast. During the week he mostly eats cereal because it's easier to make before work. This morning I made one of his favorites, a cheese omelette with a side of potatoes. I don't eat eggs anymore but I don't mind cooking them for him. At least I know he is getting protein and will be full till lunch.

It's quite simple how I make it. The potatoes are just cut into small pieces and sauteed in a little olive oil and Earth Balance butter. About 20 minutes into the cooking time I add the chopped onions and let them cook a little more. You want the potatoes to have a nice crisp crust on the outside but not charred. I also add a little salt and pepper to them while they cook.

For the omelette I just use 2 organic brown eggs and add a little almond milk, salt and pepper. Mix with a fork then pour into a small hot pan with 1 tbsp of Earth Balance butter. You want the heat on low here, about a level 2. Eggs always need to cook slow. As they cook, bring the outer edges in with a wooden spoon or spatula and let the uncooked egg fill the spaces. After a couple of minutes, turn the eggs over. This is when I add a piece of cheese. Then I turn half the omelette over to cover the cheese until it melts. Done!

Sometimes I like to use fresh herbs in the egg mixture. Parsley and basil work well. Add a little paprika for some heat or some scallions for a light onion taste.

It always makes me feel good knowing I can provide a healthy and satisfying meal for Danny as well as others. To see smiles on their faces and knowing their tummies are full is what makes all the difference. Cooking up a mighty breakfast is important to start the day off right and get your body in motion. So spread the love through food and cook up a picture perfect meal that will satisfy both the king and queens of eats!

Recipe in Vegetarian Times

So I went out to get the mail before and to my surprise my Vegetarian Times came. I have been waiting for the April/May issue for months because they were planning to publish my Black Eyed Pea Cakes & Confetti Corn recipe. Finally, I got to see it in print. If you don't have the issue yet check it out here. (pats herself on the back)

A Light & Healthy Lunch

Eating a healthy lunch that is light and fills you up is not that hard. Today, I heated up some leftover rice and steamed broccoli and edamame for a meal fit for a queen. (I am certainly not a princess!) Not only was it was super easy to make, it was delicious and it kept me full for about 5 hours. Here is what I did:

- steam broccoli & edamame
- heat up 1 cup of cooked rice (white or brown) in a pan with 2 tbsp. of Earth Balance butter
- throw in a sprinkle of parmesan cheese
- Add the veggies + salt and pepper

Eat up!

Veggie Chik'n Paninis

For dinner tonight I made veg paninis so I can put our new panini grill to use. It was sitting in the dining room since Christmas! They were super simple to make and you can substitute just about anything you like in them. But this recipe calls for:

- half of a green bell pepper
- half of an onion
- mozzarella (vegan Daiya cheese would be a great substitute)
- Gardein tenders
- ciabatta bread
- salt and pepper

All you have to do is saute the peppers and onions in a pan with a little olive oil for about 20 minutes or so. Bake the Gardein tenders and then place on bread with veggies and cheese on top. Pop them on the grill and let cook for about 4 minutes. Enjoy!

Tacos!

I must say, now that I am veg I enjoy tacos even more than before. I don't feel like crap after eating them and I know in my heart its so much healthier. Plus, they are so delicious! Here is a quick recipe you can whip up under 30 minutes and everyone will love. Even those meaty taco lovers.

Feeds 2-4 people

- a half bag of Quorn crumbles or a box of crumbled Seitan
- 1 small onion
- 5 garlic cloves
- olive oil
- cumin, chili pepper, salt & pepper
- cilantro
- a half 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes
- optional:1 small bell pepper

Chop up the onion, pepper and garlic. Saute onions & peppers in a medium heated pan with 2 tbsp of olive oil until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute or two. Add a tsp or so of cumin, chili pepper and cilantro and a little salt and pepper. Mix well and add crumbles. Mix again. Let cook for a few minutes and add tomatoes. Let it all cook together for 5 - 6 minutes and serve.

I love making rice with this dish. I add a little Earth Balance and salt when cooking and then a little cilantro when its done. Make a taco bar filled with cheese, lettuce, sour cream, salsa - whatever you love on tacos. Use vegan alternatives as well if you want. Enjoy!

Vegan Lentils and Pasta

I made a yummy dish for lunch today and had to share it with my readers. Not only is it delicious, its packed with protein and flavor. Plus, its easy to make. It is perfect for lunch, brunch or dinner and can also be a side dish. I think it would be good to serve at a party as well. This dish is vegan but if you wanted to add some parmesan cheese, that's fine too. But it certainly doesn't need it. Happy Cooking!

Ingredients:
1 cup of any small pasta - I used Dischi
1/2 cup of lentils
3 cups of veggie broth - I use Rapunzel Vegan Veggie Cubes w/ Sea Salt
1 small onion - You can use 3 shallots instead
3 cloves of garlic
parsley
1 tbsp of olive oil

First, cook the lentils until they are soft. This could take about 20 minutes or so.
While they are cooking, chop the onion and garlic. If you are using fresh parsley, chop that too.
Once the lentils are cooked, drain and put aside.
Boil the veggie broth and add the pasta. Cook on medium high.
In a small pan, pour the olive oil and saute the onions on medium heat until they are translucent, about 5 -8 minutes.
Then add the garlic and saute another 5 minutes. Turn heat off.
When the pasta is done, add the lentils, onions and garlic and mix.
Simmer on low for another 5 minutes.
Add the parsley and serve.

* Makes about 4 servings